There's a Conversation Going on Between Americans and their government like none before

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By Gene Messick (about the author)

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For OpEdNews: Gene Messick - Writer

After a major shut-out for 8 years of GwB's Administration ignoring us, Americans are finding ways to talk with their government, even before Obama takes over the reigns of power on January 20th. It's an amazing Change to watch. You can find it dancing out all over the Internet. Here's one place posted on The Progress Report:

Bowing to widespread Democratic skepticism, President-elect Barack Obama will drop his bid to offer a $3,000-per-job business tax credit in his stimulus proposal. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) had called tax cuts an ineffective "trickle-down" measure. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) said he’d prefer to invest in infrastructure and energy, the "kinds of things that much more directly, much more rapidly and much more certainly create a real job." http://pr.thinkprogress.org/subscribe_pr.html

Here's another from Too Much, An online weekly on excesses and inequality:

George W. Bush invaded Iraq. What locale should our new President invade? David Cay Johnston, Pulitzer Prize-winning former NYTimes tax analyst, has a suggestion: the Cayman Islands. This Caribbean outpost may now be the world’s top tax-avoidance haven for America’s wealthy. Enron parlayed Cayman hospitality to billions in payouts, and hedge funds that played footsie with Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi fraud have Cayman connections, too. The United States should be demanding that Cayman officials “make available all records on American-related entities and individuals.” And if they don’t? Send in the Marines, says Johnston, along with plenty of auditors. Quips Johnston: “The Caymans has no military, only about 300 cops, so marching up tourist-laden beaches should be a breeze.” http://www.toomuchonline.org/signupfull.html

And more from FreePress: reform media; reform democracy:

Big Media companies like Clear Channel, Comcast, AT&T and Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. have ignored the public interest for far too long. And because they are one of the most powerful special interests in America, they've been calling all the shots when it comes to making media policy. For the first time, we're demanding -- and getting -- a seat at the table in Congress and at the Federal Communications Commission, where the future of America's media system is being decided. http://www.freepress.net/

Three from MakeThemAccountable:

On Sunday, Obama told George Stephanopoulos that closing Gitmo would be difficult; yesterday two anonymous advisers told the AP that an order to close the base will be signed soon after he takes office.

Last week, Obama unveiled a stimulus plan that included a controversial tax cut for business; yesterday a “senior advisor” on his team told the Washington Post that he’d be willing to forego that tax cut.

Last month, Obama announced that an anti-women’s rights, anti-gay preacher would deliver the Invocation for his inaugural, and a firestorm ensued; yesterday Obama team announced that an openly gay Episcopal priest will give the Invocation at the first inaugural function, a concert at Lincoln Memorial. http://makethemaccountable.com/

And to shamelessly plug my own Website: http://earthhome.us

It's not only that we Amerian's are finding our voice. It's that we are, for the first time in a l-o-n-g time being listened to, and what we have to say matters to those in power.

Bring it on!

http://earthhome.us

For 17 years Gene Messick studied and taught Design at NC State University and Cornell. Co-founding the Visual Design Program at NCSU, he established the Photography Program at Cornell, where he taught in the Architecture Department, most interested (more...)

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Book Recommendations for "American Dream Change Communications"

Say It Like Obama: The Power of Speaking with Purpose and Vision
by Shel Leanne

$21.95
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Number of pages: 224
Publisher: McGraw-Hill